There is only one reason I occasionally vote RINO. It is possible to hold their feet to the fire. I’ll vote John Cornyl this nov. I voted against him in the primary but I’ll vote for him in the general since I know enough letters, phone calls, etc will make him “rethink” his position on any particular issue. That is the only good thing about a RINO, they can be pushed into “doing the right thing” if enough pressure is brought to bare.
Much more possible than a complete toad like Mark Warner.
That said, the RINOs aren't going to have easy sailing just because a few of them slipped through the cracks this time. We're going to keep primarying them - but it takes a good, strong candidate with money. Tea Party needs ground game. They've got it in some states.